King Louis XIV of France moved his court and the political seat of the country to Versailles in 1682. During his reign, King Louis transformed the property into a magnificent palace, adding hundreds of rooms and transforming the grounds into one of the most recognized and revered examples of the jardin à la française, or the French formal garden. Created by André Le Nôtre, these gardens and the grounds on which they sit remain one of the most popular historical sites in the country of France, receiving as many as six million visitors annually.

The Size and Scope of the Gardens

The Gardens of Versailles cover nearly 1977 acres of land and are located just west of the palace. They are easily visible from the grand Hall of Mirrors, which is one of the most stunning and celebrated rooms in the château. The Gardens contain not only areas of manicured landscaping and lawns, but sculptures, fountains, and walkways as well. Also contained within the gardens is the Versailles Orangerie, which dates to before work on the palace began and provided fruit and blossoms for special occasions throughout King Louis’ reign.

Major Features of the Gardens

Some of the most popular features in the Gardens of Versailles are its fountains, grottos, and canals. Among these features are the Grotte de Thétys, the Bassin de Latone, the Bassin d’Apollon, and the Grand Canal. In addition to its beauty, the Grotte de Thétys is also functional, housing a reservoir that provided water throughout the garden to maintain the grounds.

It is important to design the landscaping for your new home as soon as possible. Following the building process, your yard may look broken-down and ugly, and this can affect how you look at your beautiful new house. Planning out your landscape will make your yard as beautiful and comfortable as your new home.

Determine Your Desires

Before you can do any landscaping, you need to take a long look at your front and backyard. Take this time to think about what you want out of the area. Is it going to be your tropical oasis, a lush garden, or a social gathering spot? Once you and your family can determine the wants and needs you have for your yards, then you can start designing the layout. If you are unsure of how you want your yard to be utilized, consult with your professional landscapers. They are experts in the field, and they can help steer you in the right direction with different questions and recommendations.

Plot Your Design

With the help of your Tucson landscapers, you can start designing exactly how you want your landscape to look. There are various professional programs, similar to building blueprints, which can take the dimensions of your yards and help you apply various accessories to form a picture. Once you have this layout of your landscape, you can begin the process of preparing your yard for its new landscaping.

Allocate Various Accessories

There are many different accessories that can be added to a home, no matter your desires. You can create an outdoor living space, complete with a kitchen, dining patio, and fire pit. You may prefer a sleek and manicured backyard with hardscaping features and carefully planted trees and bushes. Whatever you decide, look for the many accessories that can help complement your landscape look.

When you choose Santa Rita Landscaping, you are dealing with the Tucson landscapers that many homebuilders trust with their landscaping design. We can help make your new home the most beautiful one you’ve ever had. We are available for your call at (520) 623-0421.

Located on Bainbridge Island, WA, the Bloedel Reserve is a 150-acre nature preserve created by Prentice and Virginia Bloedel with the intention of bringing the beauty and essence of the Japanese garden to America. In addition to the Reserve’s Japanese and Zen gardens, the property also features several landscaped and manicured lakes and lawns. Today, the Bloedel Reserve is managed by the University of Washington and still contains the Bloedels’ home, which has been preserved as the property’s visitor center.

The Reserve’s Design

The Bloedel Reserve began as private property on which Prentice and Virginia Bloedel aimed to explore the techniques and characteristics of traditional Japanese gardens. Because Prentice Bloedel was colorblind, much of the Reserve’s design focuses on the contrast of shape, size, and texture, rather than on color. The Bloedels’ ultimate goal in creating the Reserve was to cultivate a tranquil and contemplative environment through landscape and garden design. Following their purchase of the property in 1951, the couple remained in their home on the Reserve until 1987, after which the property became public and management was transferred to the University of Washington.

The Reserve’s Renown

The Bloedel Reserve has been listed among the Journal of Japanese Gardening’s top ten Japanese Gardens in the United States. In addition to its award-winning Japanese garden, the Bloedel Reserve also features a fairyland-like moss garden with over 40 species of moss, a flower-filled glen, and a tranquil bird marsh. The Reserve offers unique self-guided strolls through the property, entitled Awareness, Reflection, Gratitude, and Transition. These quiet walks allow visitors to not only enjoy the physical beauty of the property, but gain the philosophical and spiritual benefits of spending time among Reserve’s peaceful gardens and paths as well.

With fall and winter on the horizon in Tucson, people will start lighting up their fire pits and having a great time with friends and family. If you have ever thought about incorporating a beautiful fire pit with your landscaping, then continue reading for a few elements to consider.

Select an Open Area

It is best to look for an open, uncovered area of your landscaping to install a fire pit. You want to create a large area to accommodate the fire pit and various seating places. However, you must also remember to be safe with a fire pit. By keeping your fire pit away from a covered patio and a safe distance from the house or flammable parts of your landscaping, you can ensure that your home and family are kept safe while enjoying the fire pit.

Look at Seating Options

Part of installing a fire pit in your backyard is for the social factor. Your friends and family can gather around a large, warm fire to roast marshmallows and share enjoyable stories. With this in mind, you want to look at many different seating options. Many built-in fire pits are complemented with brick and stone benches surrounding the area. There are many different seating options your landscaping company can recommend.

Consider Adding a Footpath

Depending on where your new fire pit is located, you may want to add a paved footpath from your patio to the fire pit. Stone footpaths are a beautiful addition to any yard, and they can help direct your family and friends to the social area around the fire pit. Footpaths also create a safe area for people to walk on when it is dark outside. This is crucial to keep guests from tripping and hurting themselves in your backyard.

Call Santa Rita Landscaping to find out how great a fire pit would look in your backyard. We offer various landscaping services including irrigation, lighting, and hardscaping in Tucson, AZ. Please visit online or call us at (520) 623-0421 to learn more.

The country of China is known for its rich history, beautiful architecture, and stunning gardens. Among the finest Chinese gardens ever designed is the Master of the Nets Garden, located in the city of Suzhou. A recognized UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Master of the Nets Garden allows visitors to step back in time nearly one thousand years to enjoy a unique blend of organic and inorganic elements that come together to create this lasting masterpiece.

The Garden’s Creation

The Master of the Nets Garden was constructed in the year 1140 by Shi Zhengzhi, who served as the Deputy Civil Service Minister for the Southern Song Dynasty government. Originally called Ten Thousand Volume Hall, Shi Zhengzhi’s garden design fell into disarray following his death and its subsequent transferal among numerous owners. In 1785, a retired Qing Dynasty government official named Song Zongyuan sought to restore the garden to its former glory. During this process, the garden underwent a significant redesign process, including the addition of several buildings. Despite these changes, Song Zongyuan aimed to retain the garden’s original spirit. He renamed the transformed masterpiece the Master of the Nets Garden, in reference to the simple fisherman’s life revered in the philosophical writings loved by its original creator, Shi Zhengzhi.

The Garden’s Features

Today, the Master of the Nets Garden features three sections. Throughout the gardens, the placement of plants and rocks serves to represent the four main seasons and their coexistence in natural harmony. The main garden hosts a large pond surrounded by pathways and buildings, including the Pavilion for the Advent of the Moon and Wind and the Ribbon Washing Pavilion. A smaller inner garden, which covers only 660 square feet, is the inspiration for the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Ming Hall Garden. The garden’s residential section includes four main halls, three courtyards, and a tower, all laid out in a linear sequence.